Alameda · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Alameda

Alameda regulates boarded buildings and vacant parcels, requiring rehabilitation for occupancy within 90 days after boarding or vacancy. Foreclosure timelines, homeowner protections and auction rules come from state law.

Ask about foreclosure & auctions in Alameda See coverage

Key points

Rehabilitation: A boarded building or vacant parcel, boarded by the owner or the City, must be rehabilitated for occupancy within 90 days.
Upkeep: To show a vacant property adds no blight, owners keep landscaping and exterior, including paint, in good condition and remove trash, debris and graffiti.
Penalties: Administrative penalties are up to $1,000 per calendar year for each boarded building or vacant parcel, and up to $5,000 for repeats.
Monitoring fee: A building or parcel boarded or vacant more than 90 days pays an annual monitoring fee that the City Council sets by resolution.
State timeline: State law: notice of sale comes at least 3 months after notice of default is recorded and at least 20 days before the sale.
State sale window: Under state law, a 1–4 unit trustee's sale is not final for 15 days; eligible bidders who give notice may bid within 45 days.

Each rule below is marked Alameda code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Registering vacant and foreclosed homes

Alameda code What Alameda's code adds
Upkeep duties	Keep landscaping and building exterior, including paint, in good condition. Regularly remove trash, debris and graffiti. Prevent criminal activity. Applies: Ways an owner shows a boarded building or vacant parcel, vacant over 90 days, does not add to blight. § 13-14.3 · code text Active maintenance and monitoring shall include: (a) Maintenance of landscaping and plant materials in good condition; (b) Maintenance of the exterior of the building, including but not limited to paint and finishes, in good condition; (c) Regular removal of all exterior trash, debris and graffiti; Rehabilitate the building or parcel for occupancy within 90 days after it is boarded or vacant. Applies: Applies to any boarded building or vacant parcel, whether boarded by the owner or by the City. § 13-14.3 · code text The owner of any boarded building or vacant parcel, whether boarded by voluntary action of the owner or as a result of enforcement activity by the City, shall cause the boarded building or vacant parcel to be rehabilitated for occupancy within ninety (90) days after the building is boarded or the parcel is vacant.
Penalty	Up to $1,000 per calendar year for each boarded building or vacant parcel. Applies: The first administrative penalty, when a boarded building or vacant parcel remains in violation. § 13-14.4 · code text Any owner of a boarded building or vacant parcel which remains in violation of subsection 13-14.3 shall be liable for an administrative penalty in an amount not to exceed One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars per calendar year per boarded building or vacant parcel. Up to $5,000 per calendar year for each boarded building or vacant parcel. Applies: A second or later administrative penalty. § 13-14.4 · code text A second or subsequent administrative penalty imposed upon any owner pursuant to this section shall be in an amount not to exceed Five Thousand ($5,000.00) Dollars per calendar year per boarded building or vacant parcel.
Registration fee	An amount the City Council sets by resolution. Applies: Annual monitoring fee on a boarded building or vacant parcel, boarded or vacant for more than 90 days. § 13-15.3 · code text There is hereby imposed upon every owner of a boarded building or vacant parcel an annual boarded building and vacant parcel monitoring fee (hereinafter, "Monitoring Fee"), in an amount to be set by resolution of the City Council.

Foreclosure steps and deadlines

CA state law California law sets this statewide. Time between notice of default and sale: At least three months after the notice of default is recorded before notice of sale; the sale itself no earlier than three months and 20 days after the notice of default (Civ. Code § 2924(a)(2), (a)(4)). Notice of trustee's sale: Posted, published and recorded at least 20 days before the sale (Civ. Code § 2924f(b)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Homeowner protections

CA state law California law sets this statewide. No foreclosure while a loan modification is pending: If a complete first-lien modification application is submitted at least five business days before a sale, the servicer may not record a notice of default or sale, or hold the sale, while it is pending (Civ. Code § 2923.6(c)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

The trustee's sale (auction)

CA state law California law sets this statewide. When and where sales are held: At public auction in the county where the property is, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a business day (Civ. Code § 2924g(a)(1)). Tenant and owner-occupant priority after a sale (SB 1079): On 1–4 unit property, a trustee's sale is not final for 15 days; eligible tenant buyers and eligible bidders who give notice of intent may bid within 45 days (Civ. Code § 2924m(c)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Tenants in a foreclosed home

CA state law California law sets this statewide. Tenants in a foreclosed property: A month-to-month tenant must get at least 90 days' written notice to quit; a tenant with a fixed-term lease signed before the sale may stay to the end of the lease (Code Civ. Proc. § 1161b(a), (b)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Debt after the sale

CA state law California law sets this statewide. No deficiency after a trustee's sale: After a nonjudicial trustee's sale, the lender cannot collect any shortfall from the borrower (Code Civ. Proc. § 580d(a)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Who this affects

Homeowners behind on a loanBuyers of bank-owned homesLenders and servicers

Frequently asked questions

Must a lender or owner register a vacant or foreclosed home in Alameda?

A boarded building or vacant parcel, boarded by the owner or the City, must be rehabilitated for occupancy within 90 days. To show a vacant property adds no blight, owners keep landscaping and exterior, including paint, in good condition and remove trash, debris and graffiti. Administrative penalties are up to $1,000 per calendar year for each boarded building or vacant parcel, and up to $5,000 for repeats. A building or parcel boarded or vacant more than 90 days pays an annual monitoring fee that the City Council sets by resolution.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Alameda property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Alameda

Alameda Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Alameda

Buying & selling in Alameda

Building on your lot in Alameda

Property taxes in Alameda

Alameda overview